GOP Colleagues Break Tradition, Won’t Endorse Kim in Primary

Breaking from the long-standing tradition of supporting incumbents, congressional Republicans have voted formally to remain neutral in GOP Rep. Jay Kim’s primary battle.

Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.), chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, said the decision by the group’s executive committee was “a very large departure” from the custom under which the party supports all GOP representatives for renomination.

Kim pleaded guilty last year to accepting $230,000 in illegal campaign contributions. He has been sentenced to home confinement under electronic monitoring, and although he is permitted to carry out his duties in the Capitol, he is barred from returning to California before the June 2 primary.

P.J. O’Neil, a spokesman for Kim, said the congressman “was not surprised by it. I think they made it clear from the get-go that they weren’t going to endorse anybody.”

Kim’s opponents see it differently. “I’m glad to see that the House leadership is finally catching up with what all of us in the district knew, and that is that Jay Kim should have resigned or at a minimum not be running for reelection,” said Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. Pete Pierce, one of three Republicans challenging Kim in the primary.

“I don’t think they had an option,” said Assemblyman Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar), another Kim opponent. “Now is not the time to appear hypocritical by saying it’s acceptable if a Republican does it [violates campaign finance laws] but unacceptable if it’s a Democrat.”

Many California Republicans have lined up against Kim, with presumed gubernatorial nominee and state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren calling on the congressman to resign. Lungren, like several prominent Republicans, has endorsed Miller.

In addition to home detention, Kim received one year of probation, was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and was fined $5,000.

The House Ethics Committee also is investigating his case.